Parasites in the human body lead to the development of serious diseases.Its harmful effects significantly affect life expectancy.
According to research, almost all people are carriers of certain parasites (from the smallest, visible only under a microscope, to 10-meter tapeworms).Unfortunately, parasites don't just live in the intestines.Its habitat includes: the intestinal tract, muscle tissue, heart, blood and even the brain, as well as other vital human organs.
No one, not a single person in the world is immune to parasites entering their body.Furthermore, it doesn't matter the person's age (whether child or adult) and status (rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc.).
Types of parasites
For example, there are parasites like hookworms.During their life cycle, they will certainly visit almost every organ in our body.Why does this happen?Because hookworm larvae, when they enter the soil through feces, remain viable for several weeks.And, if during this time they manage to get into human skin, they will gnaw through it and thus enter the blood vessels.And with the blood flow they will be transferred to the lungs.Once these larvae are in the alveolar capillaries, they enter the alveoli of the lungs to ascend through the respiratory tract.They will then go into the pharynx and be swallowed.At the same time, throughout the entire journey, they literally pave the way.To gnaw through our lungs, intestines and blood vessels, nature endowed them with four protruding hook-shaped teeth.After entering the intestine, the hookworm, feeding on blood, can remain there for up to 14 years, thanks to gnawing through the intestinal mucosa.According to research, today more than 650 million people around the world are affected by hookworm.
Another parasite, alveococcus (a class of helminths), creates specific formations in the body - Finns.This is a capsule made up of a set of small bubbles, called alveococcus finna.In this case, the bubbles do not contain liquid.They grow in human tissue through external budding and are similar to a malignant tumor.This disease occurs as a malignant formation. Alveococcosis is rare, but mainly affects the liver and brain.Alveococcal nodes reach 15 cm in diameter.This type of helminthiasis is difficult to diagnose.Therefore, the diagnosis in most cases is made late, when surgical intervention is no longer possible.
All parasites are merciless and ungrateful.To stay as long as possible in the “boss's house”, they resort to using sharp hooks, clothespins, plates - chitin teeth (the density resembles a nail) or hair as hard as wire (worm).These unique devices constantly injure the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, load the liver with waste products, take away food from a person, which reduces immunity, inhibiting beneficial microorganisms.The vital activity of bacteria that synthesize B vitamins, as well as lactic acid bacteria and interferon-donating bacteria, is inhibited.And all this is intestinal immunity, that is, almost half of all human immune mechanisms.
Thanks to our unique camouflage, we can go unnoticed by two or more types of parasites at the same time.In the liver - lamblia, in the intestines - roundworms.In fact, a large number of patients with anemia, chronic fatigue, pancreatitis, asthma, allergy, dysbiosis, cholelithiasis and others are infected with parasites.
If we talk about the symptoms of parasitic infection, they may not even appear.Despite the invasion, a person can feel completely healthy if he has good immunity.He will actually be healthy for some strictly individual time.Later, as the immune system weakens (due to stress, illness, surgery), the parasite will still begin to send weak signals.They are characterized by pimples on the skin, foul-smelling urine, persistent cough with clear lungs, loose stools with a strong odor or constipation, gas formation and bad breath.The most striking manifestation is considered to be nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism).Symptoms may include drooling, perverted appetite (nighttime or insatiable hunger), food cravings (sour and sweet foods), and air burping.Sometimes you can meet people with an increased appetite while losing weight.Unfortunately, the number of possible symptoms is almost infinite.Parasites are so “cunning” that they mask their presence with symptoms of the most common diseases.
Parasites that can be obtained from pets
Pets can give us not only their love and affection, but also other “gifts” that are much less pleasant.So that doctors do not study the practical parasitology of our body, we need to know exactly what threatens us and how to deal with it.
Ascariasis
Who transmits?Pig, cat, dog, human.With feces, the pathogen enters the soil and from it to humans through unwashed hands and vegetables.There are also frequent cases of ascariasis transmission through strawberries, which are eaten unwashed in the market.Ascaris lives in the small intestine of a person for up to 2 years, eating useful substances, and poisoning him with products of his vital activity.Ascaris eggs live in the soil for up to 10 years.
Symptoms: weakness, allergies, rash, lack of appetite, weight loss, nervousness, poor sleep.With a healthy lifestyle, there may be no symptoms.If the worms multiply and enter the respiratory tract, coughing is possible.
What to do: Pumpkin seeds are useful as a roundworm preventative – a handful a day.If you suspect ascariasis, have a stool test at the clinic.This disease is treated with antiparasitic tablets.
Giardiasis
Who transmits?The natural carrier of Giardia is the cat.They could also be contaminated soil or water from a well.It can be transmitted from humans through dirty hands.It often happens in children.
Symptoms: Giardia settles in the duodenum, obstructs the ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas (visible on ultrasound), these organs bother the patient, food is poorly digested and absorbed, lack of appetite.
What to do: take the stool to the clinic.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe pills.Don’t try to ward off Giardia with “vormil” – it has no effect on them.The cat must also be treated: buy Drontal or Droncid at the veterinary pharmacy, give according to weight, according to instructions, once every 3 months.
Toxocariasis
Who transmits: a dog, occasionally a cat.This is a canine roundworm that does not take root in the human intestine, but penetrates the blood, feeds on its proteins and releases toxins there.It often affects children.
Symptoms: same as other parasites, but nothing is found in feces;the blood needs to be examined.Sometimes toxocara enters the eyes through the bloodstream and a person can become blind.An ophthalmologist can see the pathogen deep down.
What to do: if you have any suspicions, go to the health center for an exam.Toxocariasis is easy to cure, it is just difficult to find and suspect.
Toxoplasmosis
Who transmits: cat.The pathogen lives in the blood.
Symptoms: sometimes - slight fever, weakness, enlarged liver, fatigue, muscle pain, headache.Often there are no symptoms, only the weakest organ suffers.You will also not suspect anything about the cat's behavior, but you can take the cat's feces for analysis at a veterinary hospital.
What to do: go to the clinic.
Heartworm
Who transmits: dogs, mosquitoes.After biting a sick dog, the mosquito bites a person and transmits the pathogen.The larva grows, travels throughout the body and stops under the skin or in the eyes.There was a case where a heartworm measuring 23 centimeters was pulled out of a woman's eye.No more than three worms can live in a person at the same time.
Symptoms: migratory subcutaneous tumor, sensation of movement.
What to do: go to the infectious disease department outpatient clinic or the surgeon to have it removed.Be careful with your dog: if he is weak, drowsy or drags his paws, this is cause for suspicion.60-80% of stray dogs have heartworm larvae.Treatment of these sick animals is generally not carried out, since two out of three dogs die from toxic drugs and those that survive are not completely cured.Prevention method: window nets and mosquito repellents.
Against roundworms and giardia, take a small head of garlic or 2 large cloves, chop, pour half a liter of hot milk into a thermos overnight.In the morning you can drink half a glass before meals, three times a day, for 10 days.The recipe is recommended for pregnant women for whom antiparasitic tablets are contraindicated.Garlic has no effect on canine roundworm because it lives in the blood and not the digestive tract.
Self-defense
- Before eating, wash your hands with soap, lathering twice.
- Vegetables and strawberries must be washed under running cold water, peeled, placed in a colander in 1-2 layers, doused with boiling water and immediately rinsed with cold water to avoid destruction of vitamin C.
- Treat pets periodically for parasites.Wash your hands afterwards.
- If you have an animal at home, sometimes check for parasites and check on your children, especially if you have been feeling weak, allergic or have a lack of appetite lately.
Well, if you still get sick, contact a professional doctor as soon as possible.An experienced specialist will prescribe treatment that will help you recover as quickly as possible.